This week will be a momentous one on the redistricting front - with action in legal challenges to two of the worst congressional maps of the decade: Pennsylvania & North Carolina. #fairmaps 1/

In PA, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on 1/17 in a challenge seeking to have the state's congressional map invalidated as a partisan gerrymander under state law. #fairmaps 2/ brennancenter.org/legal-work/lea…

Although several other ongoing cases in federal court challenging various maps under federal law, the Pennsylvania case is the first major case to raise a challenge under state constitutional law - which makes it worth watching for several reasons. #fairmaps 3/

The first is that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has the last word - if it rules that the map is unconstitutional, it will be redrawn (assuming the court rules in an expeditious fashion as all indications are that it will). #fairmaps 4/

That could have major implications for the 2018 elections and the battle for control of the U.S House. But the case also is important because it is a challenge under state rather than federal law. #fairmaps 5/

If it is successful, it will point to a possible path for challenging partisan gerrymanders that isn't dependent on SCOTUS - and where, depending on the state, rights actually might be broader than anything SCOTUS is willing to do. #fairmaps 6/

Side note: Although the Pennsylvania case is at the PA Supreme Court, it isn't an appeal. Rather the court is hearing the case in its so-called extraordinary jurisdiction - which means basically de novo review of the Commonwealth Court's recommendations. #fairmaps 7/

Meanwhile, in North Carolina, a three-judge panel last week issued a powerful, and in many ways landmark, opinion striking down that state's 2016 congressional plan. ICYMI, opinion here: brennancenter.org/sites/default/…#fairmaps 8/

The 2016 North Carolina congressional map struck down is the state's second of the decade. The first - drawn in 2011 - was struck down as a racial gerrymander and ordered redrawn. #fairmaps 9/

The NC lege came back and said, fine, we'll just replace that racially gerrymandered map with a partisan gerrymander. No, really, that's literally what they said. #fairmaps 10/

With last week's ruling, the three-judge panel ordered the second map redrawn to undo partisan gerrymandering. But, not surprisingly, GOP lawmakers have asked for a stay from SCOTUS, which has asked for a response by noon on 1/17. #fairmaps 11/

A decision on whether to grant a stay could come any time after that - and almost certainly by the end of the week. #fairmaps 12/

If the court denies the stay, North Carolina will get a new congressional map for 2018 - which combined with the possibility of new congressional map in Pennsylvania - will be *huuuge* politically (to borrow a phrase). #fairmaps 13/

And although ordinarily you would think SCOTUS would grant a stay, the facts of North Carolina are so egregious & blatant - and more importantly seem to fall squarely into a hypo asked by Justice Kennedy that, well, this one will be interesting to watch. #fairmaps 14/

A few more thoughts on the North Carolina partisan gerrymandering cases - or more specifically the facts. #fairmaps#ncpol 2/

Although some are skeptical about what the Supreme Court will do in the partisan gerrymandering cases it took today (and not without justification, especially given Justice Kennedy’s retirement), it’s important to remember how unusual the facts of NC are. #fairmaps#ncpol 3/

2018 was a busy and, in many ways, head spinning year on the redistricting front - with action in both state and federal court and at the ballot box. A look back. #fairmaps 1/

Things kicked off on January 5, when the special master in the racial gerrymandering challenge to North Carolina's legislative maps issued his recommendations on how the maps should be redrawn. brennancenter.org/sites/default/…#fairmaps 2/

Then, on Jan 9, while the court in the NC racial gerrymandering case was weighing recommendations for fixes to the legislative maps, a different federal court issued a ruling striking down NC's congressional map as a partisan gerrymander. brennancenter.org/sites/default/…#fairmaps 3/

The US Supreme Court doing whatever it can get away with to protect GOP gerrymandering is why state supreme courts are so critical. PA's Dem-majority Supreme Court struck down GOP gerrymandering in 2018, & NC's Dem court could do so too by 2020. Here's how dailykos.com/story/2018/11/…

This is sadly a prerequisite for getting the Roberts Court to actually put limits on congressional gerrymandering—If they only see it as something Republicans do, then they'll never do anything to stop it. This is why we must pass House Dems' #HR1 to ban gerrymandering nationally

Awesome news for redistricting reform! The U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to hear the GOP's appeal paves the way for more state supreme courts to use their state constitutional guarantees of the right to vote & "free elections" to ban gerrymandering like PA's Supreme Court did

North Carolina (Antia Earls) & Michigan (Sam Bagenstos & Megan Kavanagh) have key 2018 supreme court races where progressives can gain the power to use their state constitutions to constrain gerrymandering. State supreme courts are the future of anti-gerrymandering litigation

This is why North Carolina Republicans are plotting to pack the NC Supreme Court & flip it to GOP in December if Dem Anita Earls loses & their deceptive judicial gerrymandering amendment passes. Vote Earls & no on all 6 NC constitutional amendments #NCpoldailykos.com/story/2018/9/7…

OK, so here we go…tweet storm forthcoming regarding the 300+ opinion that still holds NC partisan gerrymandering as illegal, and that this time, the plaintiff’s have met the Gill burden of having standing as being in a district that is in question:

With standing, the issue of the partisan gerrymandering by NC Republicans is in violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Article I, the 1st Amendment, and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment:

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